NASCAR: Nascar 2005: Several big questions..

There are several big questions headed into the 2005 season, and here are some of the biggest.

Who will replace Rusty?

As Rusty Wallace prepares to run his final Daytona 500, there have been stories that Miller is already starting to ask Roger Penske about his plans for the 2 car in 2006. Miller wants to have a role in picking who goes in the car because they are tired of being overshadowed by the Budweiser car.

Will Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Richard Childress Racing return to victory lane?

Owner Childress, now with drivers Dave Blaney, Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick, had his first winless season since 1997 while drivers Jarrett and Labonte failed to win a points race for the first time in a season since 1992 and 1994 respectively.

Who will rule at the restrictor plate tracks?

I still believe it's going to be a knock-down, drag-out bout between Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports at Daytona, but Evernham Motorsports, Ganassi Racing, Penske Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Robert Yates Racing are all out to prove that they are in the mix, too. Based on the two weeks of testing at Daytona, we have the ingredients not only for a great season this year but a great Speedweeks.

Can Roush Racing win three Nextel Cup championships in a row?

Roush certainly has that capability. We've had six different champions in the last six years, which goes to show you how hard it is to stay on top in Cup. A lot of guys are going to try to dethrone Kurt Busch as champion.

Who will win rookie of the year?

Not to sell anyone else short, but there should be an awesome two-way rookie battle between Travis Kvapil and Kyle Busch. And unlike 2004, can a rookie win a race in 2005? Last year was the first year since 1998 that a rookie didn't win a race, and there wasn't a first-time race winner for the first time since 1993.

Will more than 10 teams make the Chase for the Nextel Cup?

Now teams really know what it takes to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup. At the end of 26 races, I firmly believe more than 10 teams will be within 400 points of the lead and will qualify for the Chase.

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